Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 6: The State High Court today directed Joint Secretary, (J&K Affairs), Ministry of Home Affairs New Delhi, to inform it by May 21 about the steps taken to curb the menace of Drug Addiction and providing of Drug De-addiction Centers in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice M. K. Hanjura added the Joint Secretary as party respondent in the case. On 17 August last year, the court had directed the Government to delineate on various methods to curb the menace of drug addiction which has been looming large in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Accordingly, it directed the Government to ensure the establishment of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers.
"As to the effectiveness of de-addiction centers is concerned it requires regular monitoring and hence the Chief Secretary of the State is directed to hold regular meetings with the concerned department and NGOs so that the issue relating drug de-addiction and the impact on the citizens of Jammu &Kashmir State is addressed. The Government shall deliberate on the methods adopted by other States for establishment of de-addiction and rehabilitation centers. The expertise from other sources will have some relevance as the issue is of concern all over the Country and the World," the court said.
"Considering the gravity of the Drug Addiction which the State of Jammu and Kashmir is facing as reported by learned Sr. Additional Advocate General supported by the letter dated 16.02.2018 of the Special Director General of Police, J&K, we are inclined to add Joint Secretary, (J&K Affairs), Government of lndia, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, as party respondent and to be represented by Tahir Majid Shamsi, ASGI," the court said, adding, "He shall get instructions from the Department concerned as to what steps have been taken by them to curb the menace of Drug Addiction and providing of Drug De-addiction Centers in the State of Jammu and Kashmir." The case has been posted on 21st May, 2018. |
